Gay male undergarment

ABSTRACT

This invention is an undergarment that embraces the gay male lifestyle by promoting safe sex in a provocatively expressive manner. This garment is unique in several respects. First, it provides a snap-close condom pocket on the outside casing waistband in the back to make it easily accessible to a sexual partner while incorporating the fashion trend of visibility of the top part of the underwear when wearing low cut or baggy pants. Second, it utilizes two erotically placed slide fasteners located in the front and back specially designed to be comfortable, prevent hair or skin from getting caught and to make the sexual organs accessible in a novel and exciting way. Third, the crotch area is contoured to make the wearer more alluring and enhance the aesthetics of the overall look of the undergarment. There are five claims submitted with six drawings.

REFERENCES

U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS 1,013,764 January 1912 Goldberg 1,107,219 August 1914 Kops 1,473,427 November 1923 Handley 1,599,687 September 1926 Sullivan 1,733,160 October 1929 Levinson 1,797,208 March 1931 Weisz Re20567 December 1937 Bachelis 2,235,848 March 1941 Reis 2,333,428 November 1943 Kinsey 2,328,953 September 1943 Chatfield et al. 2,336,248 December 1943 Harwood 2,341,798 February 1944 Lesser 2,369,773 February 1945 Brenner 2,389,721 November 1945 Durso 2,428,477 October 1947 Thompson 2,432,325 December 1947 McDougall 2,492,862 December 1949 Harvey 2,498,048 February 1950 Neinken 2,544,840 March 1951 Kowatsch 2,549,374 April 1951 Friedman 2,593,711 April 1952 Weatherly 2,601,602 June 1952 Firschung, Sr. 2,610,325 September 1952 Schlussel 2,624,881 January 1953 Lee 2,725,573 December 1955 Kornhauser 2,822,807 February 1958 Heyman 2,854,669 October 1958 Cohen 2,983,977 May 1961 Guerin 3,016,726 January 1962 Lawson 3,059,301 October 1962 Dierks 3,137,862 June 1964 Mizerak 3,207,155 September 1965 Cullen 3,283,545 November 1966 Simon 3,310,053 March 1967 Greenwood 3,425,420 February 1969 Steinberger 3,459,181 August 1969 Mann 3,487,833 January 1970 Senser 3,517,666 June 1970 Atlee 3,798,675 March 1974 Belpaume 3,871,030 March 1975 Green 4,015,312 April 1977 Krekler 4,035,844 July 1977 Atack et al. 4,145,762 March 1979 Wallach 4,156,294 May 1979 Horn 4,173,976 November 1979 Bloomquist et al. 4,213,312 July 1980 Safrit et al. 4,247,097 January 1981 Schwartz 4,330,120 May 1982 Netti 4,370,696 January 1983 Darrell 4,387,838 June 1983 Jackson 4,464,798 August 1984 Livingstone 4,498,200 February 1985 Livingstone 4,533,355 August 1985 Fair 4,554,685 November 1985 Ray 4,602,390 July 1986 Morera et al. 4,638,579 January 1987 Gamm 4,637,075 January 1987 Ingrisano et al. 4,651,355 March 1987 White 4,660,551 April 1987 Nishimura 4,674,135 June 1987 Greene 4,702,239 October 1987 Ichikawa 4,759,355 July 1988 Thrower 4,808,175 February 1989 Hansen 4,811,427 March 1989 Regan 4,875,241 October 1989 Browder, Jr. et al. 4,955,088 September 1990 Terjesen 4,961,419 October 1990 Tribble 4,961,235 October 1990 Williger 5,005,695 April 1991 Tennefos et al. 5,029,345 July 1991 Angheluta 5,067,178 November 1991 Katchka 5,070,869 December 1991 Zhang 5,093,935 March 1992 Countee, Jr. 5,133,093 July 1992 Tsuchiya 5,134,726 August 1992 Ross 5,157,793 October 1992 Michels 5,165,115 November 1992 Stanislaw 5,172,430 December 1992 Lerma-Solis 5,226,179 July 1993 Choi 5,237,706 August 1993 Nalbandian 5,243,974 September 1993 Allen 5,255,392 October 1993 Stanislaw 5,274,854 January 1994 Wenner et al. 5,283,912 February 1994 Chung D358472 May 1995 Firouzpour 5,524,298 June 1996 Plunktett 5,598,587 February 1997 Wada 5,647,065 July 1997 Richerson 5,678,250 October 1997 Nolan 5,819,323 October 1998 Edenfield 5,870,779 February 1999 Heron 5,875,495 March 1999 Thrower 5,920,914 July 1999 Dempsey 6,018,823 February 2000 Ortmeier 6,061,840 May 2000 Alligator 6,076,195 June 2000 Klein 6,243,880 June 2001 Lyden 6,289,520 September 2001 Page 6,353,940 March 2002 Lyden 2002/0053102 May 2002 Vartanyan 6,662,378 December 2003 Vartanyan 2004/0025218 February 2004 Huang 2004/0231034 November 2004 Cym 6,862,746 March 2005 Cym 6,901,607 July 2005 Elwell 2005/0235399 October 2005 Kang 2005/0268380 December 2005 Sovell 5,870,779 February 1999 Heron 5,875,495 March 1999 Thrower 6,289,520 September 2001 Page 6,319,092 November 2001 Leyhe et al. 6,353,940 March 2002 Lyden 7,001,240 February 2006 Huffman-Jimenez 7,065,797 June 2006 Chen 2006/0162052 July 2006 Stankowski et al. 7,178,174 February 2007 Soderstrom 7,231,672 June 2007 Thomas 2007/0277285 December 2007 Gravette et al. 7,434,273 October 2008 Chung 7,895,676 March 2011 Clark FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS 310486 October, 1955 CH 1537902 July, 1968 FR 2,143,422 February, 1985 GB 2,060,356 May, 1981 GB 2,624,701 June, 1989 FR 92/018021 October, 1992 WO 06008839 January, 1994 JP

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to undergarments that accommodate the gay male lifestyle through structure, a new and improved condom pocket, and two strategically placed slide fasteners.

2. Description of the Prior Art

The decades-old AIDS epidemic requires the utilization of various precautions to prevent the spread of disease while the recent passage of same sex marriage in New York and several other states calls for celebration of breaking through the last major civil rights' barrier in this century. Other similar patents in the field of this invention are: (1) U.S. Pat. No. 5,067,178 to Katchka, who invented an undergarment with pocket in which to conveniently carry a condom; (2) U.S. Pat. No. 5,093,935 to Countee, Jr., who invented an undergarment with a centralized pocket for carrying a condom; (3) U.S. Pat. No. 7,231,672 to Thomas, who invented a boxer with a pocket on the front interior panel with a secured closure; (4) U.S. Pat. No. 5,172,430 to Lerma-Solis, who invented underwear with two discrete slide-fastened pockets in the front inside of the garment so that the wearer could slip on the condom automatically coated with a spermicidal lubricant from the top pocket and then dispose of the used condom in the bottom pocket; (5) U.S. Pat. No. 7,895,676 to Clark, who invented male undergarments with different pouch sizes to accommodate the differences in genitalia sizes; and (6) U.S. Pat. No. D358,472 to Firouzpour, who designed a combined brief with discrete condom pockets in the front media waistband.

Improvements Over Prior Art

(1) U.S. Pat. No. 5,067,178 to Katchka

Mr. Katchka's invention provided an elastic pocket to discretely hide a condom. The pocket is located in the front between the waist band and the crotch area on the inside of the garment. The disadvantages of this invention include the uncomfortability of the pocket placement, the nondurability of elastic material, and the perpetuation of the condom as something shameful and secret. The present submission improves upon this idea by constructing a non-discrete, more durable snap-open pocket on the back portion of the waistband outside the garment. The gay male no longer has to cower away in a closet, but can embrace his sexual identity by being out and proud. By placing the pocket in a non-discrete area which will be visible with the current fashion trend of low rise jeans or baggy, sagging pants, the wearer proudly shows his support for safe sex. Since the pocket is on the outside back of the waistband, the wearer is inviting his partner to incorporate the use of the prophylactic as a part of the foreplay. Using a condom does not have to be the fumbling interruption most people envision, nor does it have to be the sole burden of the wearer. This invention seeks to promote safe sex by integrating it into a fashion statement that appeals to the gay male demographic.

(2) U.S. Pat. No. 5,093,935 to Countee, Jr

Mr. Countee's invention provided an open pocket on the front outside of the undergarment, in the preferred embodiment of either a male brief or female panty. Placing the pocket on the outside was an improvement of comfortability over Mr. Katchka's pocket. The disadvantages of this invention include the lack of closure for the pocket which would allow the condom to ride up and fall out as the wearer engaged in movement. The present invention solves this problem by utilizing a durable fold over pocket with a snapping enclosure. Also, the envisioned use of the condom takes the sole burden away from the wearer of the undergarment and prominently invites the partner to engage in a mutually safe sexual activity.

(3) U.S. Pat. No. 7,231,672 to Thomas

Ms. Thomas solved the problem of Mr. Countee's invention by designing a front inside pocket that closed with a slide fastener, and improved upon Mr. Katchka's idea by constructing a larger, more durable pocket to conceal personal items. The present invention is distinguished in that it does not seek to conceal the condom, but rather integrate it into a fashion statement endorsing safe sex. Moreover, the slide fastener in this invention has nothing to do with securing the pocket, but rather provides two provocative access points to the gay male sexual organs.

(4) U.S. Pat. No. 5,172,430 to Lerma-Solis

Ms. Lerma-Solis' invention preceded, but was not cited by, Ms. Thomas' invention. Ms. Lerma-Solis' front panel pockets are secured by external slide fasteners. Again, the present invention is distinguished in that it does not seek to discretely hide the condom or place the sole burden on its use onto the undergarment wearer.

(5) U.S. Pat. No. 7,895,676 to Clark

Mr. Clark's invention was the first to include a varying sized genital pouch that was not limited to corresponding waist size to accommodate the differences in individual's genital size. This present invention eliminates the embarrassment of a man having the smallest size sewn into his underwear label by accommodating all sizes, including the range of the individual's own flaccid or erect genitalia. Moreover, its tubular contour shape provides padding for the illusion of being well endowed even when flaccid, and when the penis becomes erect there is ample room to prevent constriction.

(6) U.S. Pat. No. D358,472 to Firouzpour

Mr. Firouzpour's design patent has expired already, but nevertheless is distinguished from the present invention. Mr. Firouzpour's waistband condom pocket was merely ornamental in nature where our invention is functional. The Firouzpour pocket was located on the front waistband instead of the rear waistband, was designed to be discrete, and had no closure mechanism.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Research has shown that the gay male demographic has the largest amount of disposable income, yet no major underwear retailer has catered to their specific needs. As we approach the tenth anniversary of Lawrence v. Texas, 539 U.S. 558 (2003), the case which struck down sodomy laws as unconstitutional, we are nearing a victory of equality as same sex marriage is sweeping the nation, state by state. Gay men can come out and be who they are in a safe and provocative manner. This invention celebrates the strides made in society to recognize equal rights for men who love men, while remembering and honoring those who lost their lives in the Aids epidemic which still plagues this nation.

This invention's novelty arises not in any one of these features per se, but rather in the spirit and purpose for the particular combination of all of them herein disclosed and claimed and it is distinguished from the prior art in this particular combination of all of its structures for the functions specified.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a full frontal view of the gay male undergarment.

FIG. 2 is a full rear view of said garment with the outside waistband pocket.

FIG. 3 is a close-up view of the rear waistband showing the pocket opened.

FIG. 4 is a rear view of said garment showing both the snap-pocket and slide fastener opened.

FIG. 5 is a frontal view of said garment with the slide fastener opened to reveal protective panel.

FIG. 6 is a side view revealing the contoured shape providing the illusion of padding.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Now referring to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 6 thereof, a new and improved male undergarment embodying the elements of the present invention will be described. These new and improved elements comprise the overall design and structure of the undergarment and include the new and improved durable snap-close condom pocket, novel placement of slide fasteners in the front and rear medial lines, and novel contour shape to give a padded flattering look to the genitalia. The Gay Male Underwear, as shown in the front (FIG. 1) and back (FIG. 2) generally comprises a torso surrounding web including an annular elastomeric casing waistband fixedly mounted to an upper perimeter end of the torso web to provide access into the underwear member. A first leg opening and a second leg opening are directed through the torso web demarcated by a crotch web.

The waistband, as seen close-up in FIG. 3, includes a pocket member fixedly mounted to the rear thereof defined by a new and improved pocket member cavity including a condom member contained therewithin and closeable by a snap fastening device permanently mounted onto the pocket and wrap down flap, the novelty being that the condom pocket is placed on the top outside rear waistband, thus making it visible in order to promote safe sex and invite the sexual partner to engage in safe sex (FIGS. 3 and 4).

The rear medial torso web being novel with the placement of an anal access opening secured with a slide fastener device with protective flaps in the inside of the garment to prevent hair and skin from engaging with the teeth of the closure device (FIG. 4).

The frontal medial crotch web opening being novel in that it is secured by a slide fastener device with protective flaps on the inside of the garment to prevent hair and skin from engaging with the teeth of the closure device (FIG. 5).

The frontal contour pouch extending from the front torso web being novel in that it is shaped to give the illusion of padded genitalia (FIG. 6).

The preferred materials being of a strong, high thread count cotton that is firm and maintains its shape, yet soft to the touch, and porous, which offers heat insulation, as well as breathability for the comfort and hygiene of the wearer. The snaps and slide fasteners are metallic, and the waistband contains elastic material. The seams are integral to the overall design and help to maintain shape (FIGS. 1-6).

A modification of the invention includes a divider within the pocket to place lubricant. A second divider may be added with tiny removable plastic liners for sanitary placement of the used condom and lubricant package.

As to the manner of usage and operation of the instant invention, it is to be used as any other underwear with the added benefits to gay males. First, it provides two strategically placed slide fasteners in order to present alluring and provocative access the gay male sexual organs, including a rear-entry anal opening, and a front opening for the genitalia. Second, it provides aesthetic appeal via the contour pouch which gives the allusion of the wearer being well-endowed. Third, it incorporates the current fashion trend of low rise jeans or baggy pants which make the tops of the underwear visible so that the wearer can proudly show his support for safe sex by the visibility of the condom pocket. Fourth, it invites the sexual partner of the wearer to engage in safe sex.

With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

An underwear garment comprising a torso surrounding web, such web including an upper continuous edge and an annular elastometric casing waistband fixedly mounted to the upper continuous edge, and the torso web defining a first leg opening spaced from a second leg opening and including a crotch web positioned between the two leg openings mounted to the torso web, and the torso web having a forward contoured panel for receiving the male genitalia, and the forward torso web having a medial vertical slide fastener with a corresponding slit back panel on the inside of the garment, and the rear torso web having a medial vertical slide fastener with a corresponding back panel on the inside of the garment, and the rear waistband having an outside pocket structure with a fold over, snap-fastening flap. The individual claims are as follows: 

What is claimed as being new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent of the United States is as follows:
 1. An undergarment as set forth supra including a well-formed forward contoured panel for receiving the male genitalia which retains it contour shape regardless of genital size or state.
 2. An undergarment as set forth supra and in claim (1) including a front medial vertical opening secured with a slide fastener with a corresponding back panel on the inside of the garment to prevent hair and skin from being caught in the fastener when opened or closed.
 3. An undergarment as set forth supra and in claims (1) and (2), including a back medial vertical opening secured with a slide fastener with a corresponding back panel on the inside of the garment to prevent hair and skin from being caught in the fastener when opened or closed.
 4. An undergarment as set forth supra and in claims (1)-(3) including a pocket structure on the outside of the rear waistband well constructed of durable materials with a fold-over flap secured with a snap-closure. 